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February 3, 2025

Week Four: Big 3 Bills Continue to Advance

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Click here to see the week four bill tracker. Last week the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee advanced three bills related to special education funding, Materials, Supplies & Operating Costs (MSOC), and student transportation. SB 5187 would direct OSPI to update the student transportation funding formula (report due June 1,…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News , Special Education

January 30, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Establishing a Statewide Network for Student Mental and Behavioral Health

Advocacy in Action! Dr. Gwen Loosmore, long-time WSPTA Advocacy Committee member, testified in favor of SB 5126, establishing a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health at the January 29th Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee meeting. With student mental health at the top of WSPTA’s  priorities again this year, Gwen welcomed the…
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Category: Advocacy , Health & Well-being , Legislative

January 29, 2025

WSPTA is pleased to announce the 2025-2027 slate of officers and call for self-declared candidates

The 2024-2026 Washington State PTA nominating committee hereby places the following names into nomination: The nominating committee has confirmed that all nominees have been a member of a PTA for at least 15 days prior to the election, and meet other requirements as stated in the WSPTA Uniform Bylaws. Respectfully submitted, Teri Davis, Chair Liz…
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Category: Governance , News

January 28, 2025

Gov. Bob Ferguson creates rapid response team to support children facing separation

Last week, National PTA released a statement on the importance of protecting children regardless of immigration status. The following is the text of a press release published this week by the Office of Washington Governor Bob Ferguson. January 27, 2025 Executive Order brings agencies, schools together to support kids separated from parents or caregivers OLYMPIA…
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Category: Advocacy , News

January 27, 2025

Reconciling with Givebacks 

This blog is meant to help guide a treasurer through reconciling the PTA bank account and printing an acceptable receipt for showing the ACH payments and Stripe deposits done through our membership database, Givebacks.   Recording Expenses:   To find and print ACH payments made to WSPTA through Givebacks for membership dues follow these steps:  Log in…
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Category: Membership , Training

January 27, 2025

Big 3 bills heard in Senate Ed, Special Education bills to be heard this week

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org You can access the Week 3 Bill Tracker here. The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee heard testimony on four bills related to what is being informally called “The Big 3.” These bills seek to close the funding gaps that have widened in three specific basic education and constitutionally protected areas:…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative , News

January 24, 2025

National PTA Statement on Protecting Children Regardless of Immigration Status

Statement from National PTA: On Monday, the new Trump-Vance Administration assumed office, and the National PTA has been closely tracking the decisions and policy changes issued by the Administration as they are released. National PTA believes that all children residing in the United States, regardless of their immigration status, have the right of access to…
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Category: Advocacy , News , Safety

January 24, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Graduation Requirements

Advocacy in Action! Parent advocate Natalya Yudkovsky testified in the House Education Committee January 23 on HB 1285, making financial education instruction a requirement for the graduating class of 2031. Natalya expressed WSPTA concerns about creating a new graduation requirement before the State Board of Education has finished its work considering what tomorrow’s graduates need…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

January 23, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Close the Funding Gaps

Advocacy in Action On January 22, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee heard public testimony on bills that would close the funding gaps in what are being called “The Big Three” – special education, school operating costs (MSOC), and student transportation. WSPTA Board Secretary Melissa Stone was part of a panel of education…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News

January 22, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide

Advocacy in Action! Dr. Gwen Loosmore testified in two committees on January 21st, bringing Washington State PTA’s priority position of preventing and reducing gun violence and suicide to the forefront of bills related to common sense solutions to approach escalating gun violence. In the House Finance Committee, Gwen shared statistics about suicide and gun deaths…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News